I am sure you know the difference between what you need and what you want. You need food, clothing, and shelter; but you want fried food, the latest fashions, and a big house with a pool. Personally, I want a vacation, or at least more sleep. Don’t feel bad if you find yourself wanting, it’s normal. We are only human after all.

I first read this fortune as, “You have everything you need.” Work, family, and religion provide for me. Then I re-read it, and noticed that it said, “You attract everything you need.” Ah, the Law of Attraction, it’s a simple maxim that “like attracts like.” This philosophy is based on the idea that if you focus on positive or negative thoughts you can bring positive or negative experiences into your life. Trying to be an optimistic person, I figured this fortune must be a good sign for me.

Unfortunately, my optimism didn’t last. A little while later, I started getting cynical. What if this fortune is not as benign as it looks. Maybe the attraction was more like static cling. Could this fortune actually mean, “You get what you deserve?” Did I do something wrong, and am about to get my “just desserts?”

It’s been a rough week for me, and I’m sure that I’m thinking more into this than I should. I haven’t gotten a good night’s sleep in a while, and I’ve been running around like a chicken with its head cut off. It’s just…this fortune could easily go either way. It could be a great encouragement or a major put-down. Maybe there are many fortunes like this.

Good grief! How many have I misread? Have I written posts on fortune cookies all this time, and completely missed the mark?

Wait! I’m just over reacting. Sorry about that folks, this is just a minor personal meltdown. Nothing to see here—did I mention that it’s been a rough week?

It’s easy to read too much into something someone says or writes, especially if you take it out of context. You don’t know how everyone feels, and you certainly don’t know what path someone is walking. As much as I hate to assume, I try to assume the best of people. Besides, this is just a fortune cookie. I’m sure there is no malice behind it—unless you’re counting calories. My point is you should not overreact—no matter how little sleep you get. Of course, according to this fortune, I’m getting what I need.

Okay, I am going to flip back to that happy, optimistic person again, and say that I am lucky. I do have everything I need and I do get some of the things I want. Therefore, I am going to use this fortune to remind me that others might not be as fortunate as I am. I will try to give, if not monetarily, than emotionally. If you have the same fortune—and I believe that fortune is having more than you need—I suggest you give as well.

There are people out there that don’t have a home, or food every day. Some have had to leave their homes due to flood, fire, or war. Some are struggling with the loss of a family member, and some just feel lost. If you can look at yourself and say, “I have what I need,” then take the opportunity to spread your good fortune, and positive feelings to others, so that they can feel the same.

Clicking the sharing buttons is a great exercise for your index fingers.